Lock



R. K. GRAY LOCK Nov. 2s, 1933.

2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Jan. 26. 1951 6 Y am v f i \\9877 E j ...him QZ ,ZL rif/....2

Nov. 28, 1933. i R. K. GRAY LOCK Filed Jan. .26. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 28, 1933 f narran vsiwrias PATENT opg-ECE A .RElssuEn" r1 claims. (o1. .7o-4s) This invention .relates to tumbler locks `and keys therefor. Y

` Among the objects of :the invention are to provide a novel plug for carrying .the tumblers, to provide novel means for securing the plug `in its barrel, toprovidesnap means for resiliently holdingth plug in its `eXtrenfie positions, to provide novel key guides in the plug, to provide novel means to project the tumblers into locking 'position while retaining them in assembled relation, to provide -an-improved sliding bolt. v v

vIhese and 4otherobjects will. appear from vthe following description Aof -a preferred embodiment taken in .conjunction with :the ,accompanying drawings, ,in rwhichr- Figure 1 is a perspective view of va cabinet .flock embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View thereofy on thefline 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. v3 is a perspective view, .cna larger scale, of the spring amociated with the bolt;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the lock .on the line 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. .5 shows in elevation twogtypical tpumblers used in the lock;

Fig. 6 is a section through the plug `and barrel on the lline 6 of Fig. 4; u f

Fig. 7 is a section through the plug `and barrel on the line 7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view .of a-spring for projecting tumblers vfrom the plug into locking position;

Fig. 9 is a section through the plug and barrel on the line 9 of Fig. 4*;

FigflO is a `view of the plug retaining ring;

Fig. 11 is a section through the plug andbarrel on the line 1l of Fig. 4;` v n Fig. 12 is a perspectiveview of .a ring which is adapted to resiliently hold the plugin its extreme positions; Y Y v Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing the parts of the plug before assembly; and

Fig. 14 isa sectional view through the assembled plug.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 20 designates a barrel which receives a plug designated generally by the numeral 21. The kouter portion of the bore of the barrel is enlarged tofaccommodate the head 22 of the plug and provide an annular recess 58 behind same. The remainder of the bore is provided with diametrically opposite slots 23 which are adapted to receive the ends of the tumbl'ers in Vlocking position. The slots 23 open into the enlarged portion ofthe bore as shown in Fig.V 4. y

Thepartsffrom which the .plug .is assembled are shown in Fig. 413. They comprise a plug .Cap ,24 whichsmay `suitablybe formed 'from atstock by suitable vstamping operations. The .cap .is sub# stantially cupped and is provided with earsy 25 which projectslightly above `the..cup edge. .The center of the faceof .the cap is dishred inwardly to .provide 'aA central boss v2,6, `and also provided with a-.suitable key-.way `27 which `is adapted to .receivethe desiredconguration `of key. The plug further vcomprises a frame .spacer 28 which is provided. with a .cent-ral .opening .29 which is adapted to receive the boss .2.6, .as shown in Fig. 13. The opening 29 is enlarged by diametrically opposed -slots `30 which overlie the outer ends of Hickey-way 27 to limit .entry-ofthe.keygtherethrough into the plug. K A

The frame spacer 28 .is prov'ded -With .eXten-. sions .3l which have` an exterior lcurvature .ap. proximately the .same as the interior of the cap 24. Between the .extensions 31 the lframe spacer 28 is cut away to a smaller .curvature for a purposewhich will yhereinafter appear. After the frame spacer .28 Vis placed within the. cap 24 in properfrelation tothe key-way 27, `the key-way frame spacer 32 is superimposed thereon so that its keyway 33is .in alignment with the key-way 27. .The key-.way frame spacer 32 is substantially oblong in conguration, but its outer .ends are .curvedso that it'may t snugly within the cap 24. When assembled the 'key-way frame spacer covers-the extensions of the frame spacer 28. The key-Way frame spacer .32 is .located partly within the cylindrical wallof-the cap 24.

The plug frame is designated'vby the numeralV 35. This frame vmay suitably be made from flatl stock .suitably bent to provide a back 36 and substantially parallel sides 37. A portion of the back is bent rearwardly to provide a projecting lug. 38 which is adapted to engage a bolt 39 or other member which is intended to ybe operated by the lock. The back 36 isprovided witha key-way 39@ which is brought into alignment with thenkey-ways 33 and 27 when the plug'is assembled. On one sideof the key-way 39EL the back 36 is provided with an opening 40,. the purpose ofY which will hereinafter appear. The forward or free end of the sides 37 are crimped outwardly to arcuate formation, as shown at 41. The crimping is such that the outer surfaces of the crimps 41 areV adapted to conform tothe interior of the cap 24.

The plug frame 35 is brought into assembled relatione with they remaining parts of the plug so that the crmps 41 surround the, cut away llO portions between extensions 31 of the frame spacer 28. The adjacent portions of the sides 37 are thus arranged along the straight sides of the key-way frame spacer 32. During the assembly the various elements are assembled on a pilot to align the key-ways, and the ears 25 are swedged downwardly to eectively secure the parts of the plug together. The exterior cylindrical surface of the cap is provided with a groove 42 for receiving a plug retaining ring 43 which will hereinafter be further described. The face of the cap may be provided with a circular groove vtoirnprove its appearance.

Y the keyvvay frame spacer 32 is adapted to receive a series of tumblers 44 which are provided'with openings 45 into which the key passes in order to withdraw the projecting ends of the tumblers out of the slots 23. As shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 7, it is preferred to slot one face of each tumbler 44Llongitudinally and centrally, and to make the openings 45 through the web oi metal `at the bottom of such slots. Along one,Y or preferably both sides, as shownin Figs. 5 and 7, each tumbler is provided with a recess 46.A By providing a recess in both sidesl am able to direct each tumbler in either direction.l The recesses 46 are differently located in certain of the series of tumblers so that they may be brought into alignment when the tumblers are unequally projected, which corresponds with the locking of the plug to the barrel 20. As Will be readily seen in Fig. 5, the recess 46 is displaced with respect to thecenter of the tumbler and the key opening 45 is preferably also displaced in the same direction.v This location of the key-way openings has the result that the key-way openings of the series of tumblers are in near registration With each other, as shown in Fig. 4 when the tumblers are in their locked positionA so thatthe key may readily be inserted therein. A further advantage is that the lock is harder to pick since the location of thev key-way opening aords no clue as to the direction or extent oi the projection of the tumbler. As 'shown in Figj, it is preferred to displace the key-way opening from the center of the tumbler to a lessV extent than the displacement of the recess 46 in order'to avoid excessive depth in the slots 23.

For the purpose of effecting the projection of the ends of the tumblers, I provide in the aligned recesses 46 on one side of the plug, or both sides, if desired, a spring 47. The-spring 47- is suitably formed from/a length of wire bent backwards and forwards, as shown in Fig. 8, so that the whole wire except the center length 48 liesV insubstantially one plane. The central length 48 of the spring 47 is bent outwardly from the plane of the rest ofV the spring. A groove 49 may be formed in the inner face of the adjacent plug frame side be readily understood that the spring 47 tends to bring the recesses 46 of the tumblers 44 into alignment.

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When the recesses are thus'brought into alignment, certain of the tuinblersproject in opposite directions so as to permit locking of the plug to the barrel 20. -It will readily be1understood that whenr the projecting ends of the tumblers are withdrawn from the slots 23, which is done by the appropriate key, the recesses 46 will be staggered and the spring 47 will be compressed. The engagement between the projecting length 48 of the spring 47 with the groove 49 maintains the plug and tumblers assembly centered and capable of being handled asa unit without the tumblers falling out. I prefer to provide Within the plug one or more key-Way guides 50, one of which is shown in Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 4, the guide 50 may suitably be llocated about one-half Way between the head of the plug and its back. It will be understood, however, that one or more guides may be located vat any desired point or points with relation to the tumblers. The guide 50 may suitably be in which plate may suitably be of the same conguration as the tumblers,with the exception that it is provided with ears 52 which extend over the edges of the plug sides 37.

The plate Y50 is provided with lateralvrecesses v53, whichv are not smaller than the recesses 46 of the tumblers when the same are in locking position, so as vnot to impede the action of the spring. The guides 50 are inserted in the plug opening and are rotated so as to bring the ears 52 into the position shown in'F'ig. 5. The tumblers are then inserted, and iinally the spring`47 is inserted through 'the opening 40. The guide 50 also serves as a tumbler spacer and may be associated with a thin tumbler, as shown in Fig. 4.

The plug is retained in position in the barrel 20 by means of the split ring 43Y which engages the groove 42 in the cap of the plug and a corresponding groove 54 in the interior of the barrel 20. As shown in Fig. 9, the ring 43 is formed substantially oval so that, when in assembled relation, the ring 43 resiliently bears against the bottom of the groove 54 and also the bottom of the groove 42, as shown in Fig. 3. This structure renders the rotation of the plug Within the barrel uniform and pleasant to the touch. The frictional engagement of the spring 43 with both members offers a uniform resistance to the rotation of the plug. In addition to this function, the ring 43 acts in the usual manner to retain the plug and cylinder assembled.

It is preferred to provide means whereby the plug is resiliently held in either of its extreme positions, and which give a snap action when the plug is moved into such positions. For this purpose I arrange around the plug adjacent its head 22 av snap ring 55 which is shown in perspective in Fig. 12. This ring comprises straight sides 55 which engage the sides of the plug so as to be rotated therewith. The sides 56 are connected by ends 57 which are arcuate in plan and are displaced out of the plane of the sides 56 so that they may project into the slots 23 when presented thereto.

The annular recess 58 receives the ring 55, and is of such Width that the ends 57 are deformed towards the plane of the sides 56 when the plug is-in itsintermediate positions. When the plug reaches an extreme position, the ends 57 are released and snap 'into the ends of the slots 23, giving the snap action above referred to. When the plug is V"moved outV of its extreme position, the ends'5'? have to be again pressed so that a cer tain force has tobe overcome before the plug can be rotated, after the insertion of the key. This action is pleasing to the touch 'of the manipulator, and moreover, insures proper positionof the plug with respect to the barrel for the attainment of smooth key movement.

It will be readily understood that the plug and barrel, above described, may be used in any desired situation. As shown inFigs. l to 4, they may be associated with a cabinet lock,`the rear end of the barrel 20 being swedged or otherwise secured upon a bolt housing-59 which in turn is secured to an vattachment.plate 66 of conventional type. The bolt 39 isenclosed between the housing and attachment plate and projects through an opening 6l in the upper liange of the attachment plate. The Vbolt is provided inside the housing with projecting lugs 62, and rthe housing and attachment plate `are secured together "by rivets 63 and 64. The lrivet 64 serves as a stop to prevent the withdrawal of the bolt ybeyond a certain amount. The bolt 39 is` provided with an opening 65into whichthe lug 38 projects.. 'Ihe opening 65 may be of substantial width in the direction of movement of the bolt in order to provide a certain amount of lost motion of the bolt with respect to the rotatable lug 38. The opening 65 is olf-set with respect to the plug 21 so that one of its vertical sides serves as a stop for the lug 38 in its extreme positions.

In order to render the movement of the bolt smooth, I prefer to apply to one of the lugs 62 a spring 66. The ends of the spring 66 are turned inwardly to engage the top and bottom of the lug. The intermediate portion `of the spring 66, which is superimposed upon the face ofthe lug 62, is bowed outwardly somewhat so that it exerts a certain pressure upon the bolt and upon the adjacent wall of the bolt housing 59.

Although the invention has been described in connection with the details of specific embodiments thereof, it must lbe understood that such details are not intended to be limitative ofthe invention except insofar as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim: s

1. A plug for tumbler locks, comprising a frame formed from at stock and having a back and parallel sides, the ends of the sides beingarcuate, a cap in which the arcuate ends are located, and a spacing element betweenv the sides, the plug being maintained assembled by deformation of the cap.

2. A plug for tumbler locks, comprising 'a frame formed from flat stock and having a back and parallel sides, the ends of the sides being crimped into arcuate form, a cap' in which the arcuate ends are located, a spacing element within the cap between the crimped ends, a spacing elementl rearwardly thereof partly located within the'cup, the plug being maintained assembled by deformation of the cap.

3. A plug for tumbler locks, comprising a frame formed from fiat stock and having spaced parallel sides, a back, a bolt engaging lug integral with the back and sides and extending rearwardly therefrom, and a head to which the sides'are secured.

4. In a tumbler lock, a plug defining a tumbler space, a series of tumblers therein, each of which is provided with lateral recesses defining, with an adjacent side of the plug, a space within the plug, and a spring withinthe space having a plurality of connected parallel lengths lying substantially in a plane except the central length which is displaced outwardly from. said plane, the side of the frame being provided with a groove in which the displaced length resiliently enters.

5. In a tumbler lock, a plug dening a tumbler space, a vkey-wayguide freely inserted in the tumbler space and provided with ears which overhang the sides of the plug, `and a series of tumblers in the-tumbler space lying on both sides of the guide. so as'to prevent rotation of the key-way guide. y Y

6. Ina tumbler lock, a stationary barrel provided with a tumbler slot, a plug rotatable therein and carrying tumblers adapted to enter the slot, and a snap ring rotatable with the plug and having a resilient laterally projecting portion adapte-:itc enter the end ofthe slot.

'7. In a tumbler lock, a stationary barrel having an enlarged bore at the front end, the smaller portion of the bore being provided with a longitudinal slot, a lplug having a head rotatably mounted within the barrel, means for retaining the plug in the barrel so that the head occupies the front portion of the enlarged bore leaving an annular space between the head and the portion of smaller bore, a ring adapted to project into the annular space, the ring being rotatable with the plug and having a resilientA portion adapted to enter the slot when the tumblers are vided with opposite slots, a plug rotatably mounted in the barrel and comprising a head and a "J tumbler frame having flat sides, means for retaining the plug in the barrel so that an annular space is left between the head and portion of smaller bore, a resilient ring having straight sides engaging the sides of the plug, and connecting arcuate lengths adapted to enter and move through the annular space, the arcuate lengths being deformed so that parts thereof enter the ends of the slots when the tumblers are brought intov registry therewith.

. 9. Ina lock, a bolt housing, a bolt slidable therein and provided with a projecting lug, a flat springwith inturned ends engaging theY top and bottom of the lug and having its intermediate portion bowed outwardly to resiliently engage the housing wall.

10. In a lock, a bolt housing, a bolt slidable therein and provided with a projecting lug on each'side, a flat spring secured upon one lug and resiliently bearing upon the adjacent housing wall so as to press the other lug against the opposite wall. l Y

11. In a tumbler lock, a plug, a plurality of tumblers slidably mounted therein, each tumbler being provided with a lateral recess and a key opening, and resilient means in the recesses tending to align same, the recess and key opening of each tumbler being displaced from the center of the tumbler in the same direction, the key openings being in substantial alignment when in the locking positions.

12. In a tumbler lock, a plug, a plurality of vtumblers slidably mounted therein, each tumbler being provided with a lateral recess and a key A n opening, and resilient means in the recesses tenddisplaced from the center of the tumbler in the same direction, the key openings being in su stantial alignment When in the locking positions.

14. A tumbler provided with a lateral recess and a key opening, the recess and key opening being displaced from the `center of the tumbler in the same direction and the displacement ofthe key opening being less than that of the recess, the key openings being in substantial alignment when in the locking positions.

y15. A plug for tumbler locks comprising a frame having a back with. sides extended therefrom in parallel relation, a cap joined to the free ends of the two sides, there being a protrusion cen-- trally of the cap, a iirst spacer adjacent the cap recessed centrally to accommodate the cap protrusion, and a second spacer arranged adjacent the rst.

16. A plug for tumbler locks comprising a frame formed from ilat stock and having a back and parallel sides extending therefrom, a flanged cap joined `to the free ends of the two sides, there being a protrusion centrally of the cap, a first spacer adjacent the cap recessed centrally to accommodate its protrusion, and a second spacer adjacent the first and lapped by the flanges of the cap.

17. A plug for tumbler locks comprising a frame formed from iiat stock and having a back and parallel sides extending therefrom, a iianged cap joined to the free ends of the two sides, there being a protrusion centrally of the cap, a first spacer adjacent the cap recessed centrally to accommodate its protrusion, and a second spacer adjacent the rst and lapped by the iianges of the cap, there being formed in the cap and spacers key hole slots one of Which extends beyond another.

RAYMOND K. GRAY. 

